Today 12-year-old Joel Bradley’s dad claimed his son was “victimised” – after being himself caught trying to flog sugary and fatty snacks from the back of a van outside Cardinal Heenan High School.

But the school’s unrepentant headteacher Dave Forshaw said the day’s suspension – for trying to sell a marked up bag of Disco crisps on Thursday – was the boy’s second offence.

And he pledged to continue to monitor pupils hoping to cash in on the secondary school’s healthy food policy which bans crisps, chocolate and sugary drinks.

Joel’s dad Joe Bradley, from Norris Green, admitted he was sent away with a flea in his ear by the school after trying to sell “crisps, bars of chocolate and sweets I bought from Iceland” from a van outside the school in September.

He said he wanted to fill a void left by the closure of a shop nearby.

But Mr Bradley claimed he was only there for a few minutes and did not pursue the venture after finding out he needed a licence.

He told the ECHO his son was caught selling crisps last year but claimed “other kids do it” and Joel could pocket “£15 a day” through the enterprise.

On the first occasion he claimed the school kept around £20 in confiscated crisp proceeds.

He said Joel was armed with six bags of Discos which he was offering for 50p a bag when caught selling on Thursday.

Speaking about the offence Mr Bradley said: “It is wrong.

“But I think the school has made a beeline for him because of what I’ve done.”

Confirming Joel’s exclusion a bullish Mr Forshaw said parents were made fully aware of the school’s food and drink rules in official correspondence.

He told the ECHO: “We are a healthy school and proud of it.

“We are committed to the health of our students and it is very rare for parents to complain about us confiscating crisps, chocolate, Lucozade and Coca Cola.

“We have a normal complaints procedure.

“And if parents are not happy then they are perfectly free to take their children to a school that allows pupils to sell these things and allows a father to sell them outside on the pavement.”

He dismissed the claim money was taken from Joel as “nonsense”.

He said pupils caught selling the snacks were sent to an isolated part of the school on the first occasion but suspended for a day if caught a second time.

Mr Forshaw added: “The problems schools face is that boys in particular from 8am to going to sleep like to eat and that allows this market at break times and lunch for students. But on health and litter grounds we just won’t allow it.”

He said pupils were caught around three or four times a week selling snacks and “we have six to seven regular sellers we pin point”.

Visit http://bit.ly/schooldisco for Education Reporter Ben Turner’s take on the story.